MIA Update - April 27, 2018

[boardman]

MIA Update: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced identification and burial updates for four American service members who had been missing in action from WWII. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

-- Navy Fireman 2nd Class John D. Wheeler, 26, of Gaither, Ark., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried April 28 in Harrison, Ark. Wheeler was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Wheeler was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Read about Wheeler http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1499476/funeral-announcement-for-uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-wheeler/.
-- Navy Reserve Lt. William Q. Punnell, 27, of Flandreau, S.D., whose identification was previously announced, will be buried May 2 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Punnell was the acting commanding officer of the VF-14 Fighter Squadron, operating from the aircraft carrier USS Wasp. On July 25, 1944, Punnell flew his F6F-3 “Hellcat” with several other aircraft on a strafing mission against Japanese targets on the islands of the Republic of Palau. Punnell was in the lead position when the tail of his aircraft took a direct hit from anti-aircraft fire. His fellow pilots witnessed his plane crash into the water and immediately sink with no bailout reported. Interment services are pending. Read about Punnell http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/Article/1503187/funeral-announcement-for-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-punnell-w/.
-- Navy Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Durell Wade was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Wade was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read about Wade http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1500359/uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-wade-d/.
-- Navy Water Tender 1st Class Stephen Pepe was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft attacked his ship on Dec. 7, 1941. Pepe was one of 429 crewmen killed in the attack. Interment services are pending. Read about Pepe http://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Recent-News-Stories/Article/1502690/uss-oklahoma-sailor-killed-during-world-war-ii-accounted-for-pepe-s/.